World Class University (WCU)

About World Class University (WCU)

The World Class University project is a higher education subsidy program of the Korean government, which invites international scholars who possess advanced research capacities to collaborate with Korean faculty members and establish new academic programs in key growth-generating fields. With a vision to enhance the competence of Korean universities and nurture high-quality human resources, the WCU project seeks to achieve the two following goals:

• Enhance national, higher educational and industrial competitiveness in inter-disciplinary fields
• Transform Korean universities into world-class research institutions

WCU nano Research Center

ABOUT WCUNRC

The World Class Univerisity Nano Research Center (WCUNRC) of Yeungnam Univerisy is appointed and sponsored by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology ok Korea. In addition to developing and conducting education on state-of-the-art nano- and bio-technology at all levels WCUNRC is performing research on microfluidics, nanofluidics, and other science and engineering related to small-scale patterning of particular interest is spontaneous or self-generated nano-patterning of soft materials and their applications to biomedical sciences.

PROJECT GOAL

The main objectives are to develop new technologies for self-organized patterning of polymers and other materials such as bio-compatible materials for a high-throughput microtechnology, and apply the proposed super functional nano- and micro-patterned bio-compatible material to label-free protein identification and virus enumeration using a state-of-the-art microfluidic chip based on localized surface plasmon image sensor for biomedical applications.

PROJECT CONTENTS

This fundamental research will be tied to the development of novel strategies for self-organized meso-fabrication of soft interfaces with smart and advanced functionalities.

The key components of the basic research will include

• (1) theoretical understanding, modeling and simulations of inter-surface forces, flow and deformation in viscoelastic materials, both solid and fluid, on small scales in highly confined soft (polymer) materials,
• (2) use of the above understanding in the design of new strategies for the self-organized meso-fabrication of small scale interfacial and embedded structures in soft materials such as polymers on large areas for the bulk-nano applications, and
• (3) development of appropriate materials and meso-fabrication techniques based on a creative combination of the "top-down" and self-organization with emphasis on production of interfaces with new functionalities such as bio-meso-fabrireu sble/reversible adhesion, smart and on-demand adhesives, super-wetting, structural colors, micro-structured surfaces for efficient heat transfer and phase change, etc. As applied research, label-free protein identification and virus enumeration using a high-throughput microfluidic chip based on localized surface plasmon image sensor is developed.

The key components of the applied research will include

• (1) development of a high-throughput platform to detect protein binding with a multi-immunoassay based micro array and
• (2) to enumerate viron size biological molecular for point of care test using CCD-based, local surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) detection.

EXPECTED PROJECT OUTPUTS

The proposed basic research project for the development of state-of-the-art self-organized patterning of polymers and other soft materials will lead to

• (1) theoretical understanding, modeling and simulations of inter-surface forces, flow and deformation in viscoelastic materials,
• (2) development of the design of new strategies for the self-organized meso-fabrication of small scale interfacial and embedded structures in soft materials, and
• (3) development of appropriate materials meso-fabrication techniques based on a creative combination of the "top-down" and self-organization with emphasis on production of interfaces with new functionalities. The outcomes of the proposed applied research projects for label-free protein identification and virus enumeration using a high-throughput microfluidic chip based on localized surface plasmon image sensor will highly benefit a number of industries including electronics, photonics, medical diagnostic sensor, virus and protein related clinical tool, and HIV/AIDS care industries

CONTACT US

• Homepage : http://wcunano.yu.ac.kr/
• Address : 327, School of Mechanical Engineering, Yeungnam Univ., 214-1 Dae-dong, Gyeongsan-Si, Gyeongbuk, South Korea
• Tel : +82-53-810-1455
• Fax : +82-53-810-2062
• E-mail : artist6943@ynu.ac.kr

WCU Webometrics Institute

ABOUT WCU WEBOMETRICS INSTITUTE

The objective of the WCU Project Group at YeungNam University is to identify, track, and analyze the effectiveness of networked political campaigns across a range of Web 2.0 platforms in Korea (e.g., social network sites, YouTube, blogs, candidate and campaign Web sites, NGO and civil society Web sites). Recently developed software tools make it possible to examine how issues of public interest develop across time. The purpose of the project is to extend hyperlink and Web sphere analysis methods, adapting them to the Web 2.0 environment.

PROJECT GOAL

The project proposed the development of new research methods and tools to track the impact of web 2.0 technologies and "user generated content" on Korean political life.

PROJECT CONTENTS

The project proposes the funding of two foreign scholars and post docs, in addition to a series of international research workshops. Funding is also requested for research support, and support for the development of online research tools and data archiving of web 2.0 content. The project seeks to develop new innovative tools and research methods that will produce cutting edge research, peer reviewed publications, two books, and long lasting international research network for Korean faculty and graduate students. The project proposal also contains a number of research workshops lead by some of the world’s leading scholars on new media and elections.

EXPECTED PROJECT OUTPUTS

• 1. The training and retention of Korean grad students and faculty.
• 2. The development of Korean focused politics 2.0 and e-science research methods and tools.
• 3. The development of data repository of Korean online politics.
• 4. Comparative studies of European, North American, and Korean elections on the Internet
• 5. Potential technological (software) spin-offs to Korean government and private sectors partners interested in analyzing social media metrics, visualizations, and data sets
• 6. More broadly, the establishment of Korea as world leader on Web 2.0 research in the political sphere.
• 7. Peer reviewed publications, and edited volume, and multiple authored scholarly book.
• 8. The establishment of other international research networks - through scholars invited to participate in our workshops.

CONTACT US

• Homepage : http://english-webometrics.yu.ac.kr
• Address : 256, WCU Webometrics Institute, Humanities Hall, Yeungnam Univ., 214-1 Dae-dong, Gyeongsan-Si, Gyeongbuk, South Korea
• Tel : +82-53-810-1436
• Fax : +82-53-810-4756
• E-mail : wcuatyeungnam@gmail.com